Commutator-cleaner



M. W. ROBERTS.

COMMUTATUR CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED MAILZB. |921.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

COMMUTATOR-CLEANER.

Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented June 21, 1921.

Application filed March 28, 1921. Serial No. 456,367.

To all 'whom t may concern: l

Be it known that I, MATTHEW W. Ronnrs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lumberton, in the county of Lamar, State' of Mississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Commutator- Cleaners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention7 such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in cleaning devices and particularly to cleaning devices for the commutators of electric motors.

One object of the invention is to provide a device adapted to hold a roll of felt, or other suitable soft material, against the face of the commutator of an elec-tric motor, the device being especially designed for attach.- ment to the motors used in connection with electric railway signaling systems.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which is adapted to be supported on the threaded spindle of the motor Vwhich holds the glass protective casing of the commutator, and maintained in proper position by the nut which holds the glass casing.

Other objects and advantages vwill be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 isa sideelevation oi a portion ot a motor showing the invention applied thereto. i

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. 4

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the cleaner attachment removed from the motor.

Referring particularly to the accompanying drawing', 10 represents the commutator, 11 the brushes, 12 the threaded stem on which the glass casing 13 is enga ed, and 14 i the nut which is engaged on t e stem to hold the casing in position.

The cleaner includes a suitable length ot wire 15 having on one end a loop or eye 16, and having its other end straight. The loop or eyel is bent at right angles to the shank of the Wire and is slipped onto the threaded stem 12 and against the nut 17 which is engaged thereon. The shank oi' the wire extends horizontally inward and in parallel relation to and over the commutator 10, and carried by this end is a roll 1S oi' telt or other suitable soft material, the wire being` preferably of spring quality so as to press the felt against the outer face of the commutator, in advance of the brushes 11. Thus, as the commutator rotates, the telt will wipe against the outer face thereof and keep the commutator free of toreign substances, as well as to keep the same tree ci practically all oil except the very minute quantity required to lubricate the commutator and brushes.

By removing the wire and bending the same the required pressure of ythe felt, against the Jface of the commutator, can be quickly obtained.

What is claimed is:

The combination with threaded stem ot an electric motor which holds the protective casing of the commutator, and the nut thereof, of a commutator cleaner comprising a wire shank disposed horizontally and longitudinally over the commutator and having on its outer end an angularly turned eye engaged on the said threaded stem, and a roll ot' soft material carried by the other end of the shank and bearing against the face of the commutatr, the shank being possessed of flexibility to maintain the sott material in contact with the commutator.

yIn testimony whereof I atlix my signature in the presenceot two witnesses.

lvlAT'IHEVi/7 W. ROBERTS.

Witnesses:

L. C. Prenom), I-I. M, BISHOP. y 

